Roger T. Garland
Ceist:76 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Finance if, in regard to the setting up of a wildlife preserve, he will outline the commitments the owner of the land would have to give prior to the designation of such a preserve.
Written Answers. - Wildfowl/Wildlife Sanctuaries.
I assume what the Deputy is referring to are wildfowl/wildlife sanctuaries as there is no entity called a wildlife preserve per se under the Wildlife Act.
Powers are given under sections 24 and 25 of the Wildlife Act, 1976, to suspend the open hunting seasons for wild game birds and wild mammals in respect of particular areas.
It is the practice of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Office of Public Works to do so with the agreement of the landowner and others who may have an interest in the particular areas. The effect is to ban hunting of wild game birds and mammals on those lands. Any landowner who holds the sporting rights to lands can, of course, privately ban hunting of wild game birds and wild mammals on his/her lands.
The Deputy will also be aware of the possibility of creating nature reserves and refuges for fauna on private lands under sections 16 and 17, respectively, of the Wildlife Act.
Management agreements with landowners may also be entered into, under the terms of section 18 of the Act, on mutually agreed conditions.